During this strange time, we’re understandably getting more questions about computer and network health than ever before. We wanted to provide you with some technology health elements and troubleshooting tips. These are points that may help to cut down on frustration and make you more productive. This is somewhat of a long read but please check it out as we’re confident this can help now and in the future. See below:

Got an important Zoom or video call tomorrow on your computer?

• PREPARE: If your meeting is at 8 AM, don’t start doing updates and tweaks at 7:50 AM. If you do, you’re not going to make that meeting. Do these updates the day before DURING TECH SUPPORT HOURS and go onto the needed web platform to ensure that you can connect. Updates can cause certain functions to stop working so you want to make sure that tech departments are open in the event that you need to call to get support.

• DON’T USE THE INTERNET FOR OTHER THINGS: While you’re on your call, tell your children to stop playing video games, no Facebook Live, etc. These types of activities can slow up your network drastically and can contribute to glitching, delays, etc.

• DON’T CALL THE CABLE COMPANY IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO: With everything that is currently going on, the cable companies are more taxed than they have ever been. This is not the time to raise your Internet speed (see our point below about the Gigabit lie/Internet speed and why it isn’t that important), attempt to change providers, get new services, etc. We would recommend waiting on any non-essential tweaks until things get back to normal. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

• CHECK YOUR BACKGROUND PROCESSES: If you have anything going on such as Carbonite back-ups, Dropbox syncing, iCloud uploads, etc. these services can all cut down on your Internet bandwidth and can cause issues with video conferencing. Turn these off if you have important video calls that need to be perfect. NOTE: If you do turn these off, make sure you turn them back on.

Want Healthy web browsing?

• RESTART YOUR MODEM AND ROUTER REGULARLY: This will help to prevent lock-ups and disruptions in your Internet service.

• RESTART YOUR LAPTOPS, TABLETS, PHONES, ETC: Restarting your devices regularly (turn off power, wait 30 seconds and then power them back up) will help to keep your electronics working properly.

• CLEAR YOUR BROWSER CACHE: Another phrase for this is “Don’t have 57 windows open on your laptop”. Close these unused browser windows and history for better surfing performance.

• MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BROWSER AND OPERATING SYSTEMS ARE UPDATED REGULARLY.

Random tips and opinions

• DON’T WORRY ABOUT INTERNET SPEED: The cable companies have been advertising their Gigabit service very frequently. Don’t believe the hype as you don’t need 1 Gbps for quality Internet connections. Here’s why Gigabit is good and bad:

• Most of our clients that have “gigabit” service are receiving 250-400 Mbps (25-40% of Gigabit speeds). Based on speed solely, ANYTHING in the house will run perfectly with this. Typically, most networks at 100 Mbps+ will allow household networked devices to run properly. Another point about this is that ALL of your devices, wallplates, connections and cables need to be Gigabit to theoretically get Gigabit speeds. Unfortunately, they almost never are. Our recommendation is not to get hung up on the idea of getting specifically Gigabit speed but just to know that having a Gigabit package will allow you to get GREAT speeds that should work with anything in your home.
• Throughput vs. speed: Throughput is how much network information (packets) gets to a location successfully. Elements such as using wired connections when possible, being in rooms/areas close to your WiFi routers and practicing good device health (see points above) will do more for your throughput than just concentrating on speed alone.

• ONE DEVICE WON’T CONNECT: If you have 1 device that won’t connect but 39 others that do, focus on the device that won’t connect as opposed to working on the other 39. If everything else works aside from one component, do the potential updates, resets, etc. on the device that won’t connect before you start resetting everything else.

• “IT AIN’T GOT NO GAS IN IT”: In the movie “Sling Blade”, this is one of Carl’s iconic lines. The point being made in this movie is that Carl looks for the simplest solution first. If your lawn mower doesn’t work, don’t take it completely apart and starting oiling the motor…check the gas first. Getting back to networks, if you have something that isn’t working, think about what might be the simplest thing first. This picture is of an Ethernet cable.

My computer stopped connecting to the Internet the other day. All of my other wired devices were working as well as my WiFi devices. Therefore, the simplest thing was to replace my Ethernet cable. TA-DA! My computer was working again! There was no reason that the cable should have gone defective…but it did. The point is that most problems are fixed by doing the simple stuff first.

We hope that this information helps you to become more Internet-savvy and that your devices behave. Need further help in San Diego with WiFi, computer troubleshooting or electronics...give us a call! NOTE: LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to our Youtube page below for future tips, reviews and information.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9T427K3ZMta3YAa6um_rsg/featured

Eero won't work with your new device? We've solved that one before.

Does Eero not work with your new:

Smart Bulb?

Solar system?

Security system?

Baby monitor or pet cameras?

Smart home technology?

Here's why it doesn't work and how to fix it.

UPDATE as of 2/3/2022: See our latest video HERE that illustrates this process.

Eero is great product and we love it. See the article HERE why it's one of our favorite offerings. HOWEVER, there are some limitations to Eero and it's why we also have better WiFi offerings for certain applications. Eero emits both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz wireless networks and the way their product works is that your device will "see" 5Ghz until you get out-of-range. At that point, connected devices "see" the 2.4Ghz WiFi network. As a refresher, 5Ghz is faster than 2.4Ghz but it doesn't propagate as far in space.

Here's the problem, many of today's inexpensive DIY devices are cheaply constructed or engineered and as a result, the initial set-up app (or sometimes the device itself) only operates on the 2.4Ghz band. In most cases when you are trying to set these devices up with Eero, you are in range of the 5Ghz network and not the 2.4Ghz network that the device can attach to. As a result, the app from your smart device may display "no network", "set-up failed", etc. You can fix this in one of two methods:

• Move far enough away from the device so you are in "2.4Ghz land" instead of "5Ghz land". As 2.4Ghz travels farther in space than 5Ghz, moving away from your Eero system will allow the app and device to communicate to the 2.4Ghz band.

• You can call Eero and have them turn off your 5Ghz band for a short period of time. Once you set the app up, you can then call them to turn the 5Ghz band back on. As long as your device can see 5Ghz, you will then be back-in-business. Sometimes just the APP won't work with 5Ghz but the device will. NOTE: If you have a device that only works on 2.4Ghz, you may be out of luck.

This is an issue that has perplexed MANY people. However, this is a simple one for us. Want help from network professionals? Call San Diego's WiFi and Eero experts!

Wattbox IP power piece to provide easy system resets and network monitoring

Luxul WiFi access point, wireless controller and router providing GREAT WiFi

We get calls frequently from clients that haven’t dealt with us before that go something like this:

“Our WiFi only works in certain portions of the house.”

“We seem to have problems all the time with WiFI not working.”

“Our Internet keeps dropping out.”

“Our Netflix keeps pausing.”

We LOVE these calls as it lets us provide these new customers with reliable WiFi and Internet connectivity that just works. Here’s a story from one our recent Projects Of The Day.

A client was referred to us and their long story-short was:

A friend technician had put in a high-end wired/WiFi network for them

The WiFi dropped out constantly and there were areas throughout the property where WiFi just wouldn’t connect.

These issues were a work hindrance when they tried to accomplish tasks from the home and were a nuisance for the family when they all tried to use their gaming systems, iPads and entertainment devices.

We looked at their set-up and recommended and installed 3 components.

• Single WiFi network with tech support and remote compatibility:
• Remote visibility tools:
• IP piece with triggered on-off:

The benefits to these specific components for them and for MANY of our clients are:

Single WiFi network with tech support and remote compatibility: A network that acts as a SINGLE entity is important so you don’t have to change networks on your device as you walk around your house and property. Network product with tech support is important so we can call someone if odd issues come up. Many of today’s solar devices and DIY equipment can act in a strange manner and having a tech department that you can talk to is important in solving many issues that arise from this gear. One of the most popular networking brands out there has literally NO support. This client previously had this brand which is one of the reasons they were never able to uncover some of their issues before they met us.

Remote visibility tools: We see this as the most important element for us and for you in order to ensure reliability and satisfaction. These tools let us “see” in real time if your network is up, down, slow or if certain devices are attached to the network. Ex: With this client, we were able to see remotely that their network had 79 drops in service within 2 days AFTER we put the equipment in. Normally we see 0-10 drops in a 30 day period. This let us know that the issues were from the cable company and we then facilitated getting this handled. This client had dealt with years of bad Internet and we were able to get to the bottom of it right away. Our devices also let us see your connectivity at any given time. Netflix not working? We can let you know if it is a problem with the modem, the router, the switch or the device providing Netflix and take you fixing this quickly and easily. We offer these tools from Domotz and OVRC.

IP piece with triggered on/off: It’s great when you don’t have to deal with problems at all and this piece fixes many issues automatically. Many of today’s devices need to be power-cycled from time-to-time to get them to behave. However, unless you know which electronic gadget to unplug and the order and timing that is needed for this, it can be frustrating to get your Internet working again. Our 3 and 5 port IP piece AUTOMATICALLY resets your modem, router and associated pieces in the correct order any time it can’t get out to the Internet. This gets your Internet working again and in most cases, you wouldn’t even know this happened! We get a notification on our side that lets us know this happened and this ensures that you know there were potentially issues. When Internet pieces are starting to go defective, we see lots of disconnects and this helps us head off any catastrophic drops that might come at inopportune times (Ex: Big presentation due that you need to work on, work meeting on Skype, Friday Movie Night, etc.).

To recap, if you want the best network available that is reliable, covers your property with WiFi and that makes troubleshooting easy or non-existent, you need:

• US!
• WiFi solution from Eero, Araknis or Luxul
• Remote visibility tools
• IP piece with triggered on/off

We supply all of the equipment, provide the design and make it all work so you don’t have to worry about the mumbo-jumbo above. Want the best WiFi available for you and your family? Start with San Diego WiFi experts at Aire Theater Designs!

Want better WiFi San Diego? Eero Pro is the answer!

Eero WiFi Mesh Networks and WiFi Installation

 

What are 3 things that we do as humans in the year 2018? In our opinion, these are eat, sleep and rely on WiFi. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t doing too well with #3 and have to deal with BAD WiFi coverage, drops in WiFi signal and slooooooooooooow playback with Netflix and other streaming applications. In the past, getting solid and reliable WiFi could cost thousands of dollars. We’ve become fans recently of a newer WiFi company that may have finally gotten it right. This company is called Eero and they occupy a new place in our WiFi line-up. UPDATE: We just created a new video review of Eero's 2022 products. See below.

Luxul WiFi Router, Switch and Wireless Controller Makes for GREAT WiFi!

We got another call today from a client that was not pleased with his WiFi performance and wanted to know how to get better coverage. After talking for a bit, we realized that any of our WiFi solutions would provide a robust, fast WiFi signal for his home and devices. Unfortunately, the cable company WiFi solutions are quite lackluster and don't provide the range, speed and quality that literally every one of our models do. Want better WiFi San Diego? Read on...to ensure great WiFi performance in your house:  

1) CHOOSE A BETTER WIFI ROUTER

The wireless router supplied by the cable company is rarely a good choice. Selecting a better router from companies like Apple, Eero, Luxul or Ruckus will make a BIG difference in your range, speed and capabilities. Which is best? That's where our WiFi experts come in. We factor in elements such as the square footage that we need to cover, number of current devices that need WiFi, plans for the future and building materials when selecting the perfect piece for you. Additionally, quality routers make for a quality network as long as they are optimized correctly. Read on.

2) OPTIMIZE YOUR NETWORK

As more and more devices become wireless, all of these competing devices make it increasingly difficult to get a better WiFi signal. This can cause websites to take a long time to load, streaming services like Netflix or Amazon to drop out or other computer issues. Did you also know that your neighbor's network and devices can affect how things work in your home? Our WiFi technicians are trained to inspect your network to ensure that problems such as competing wireless channels, 2.4 Ghz noise, insufficient network speeds from the provider, etc. are dealt with promptly and accurately so that your WiFi network makes you love technology...not hate it!

Is your wireless network driving you insane? Let us help. We solve network and WiFi problems every day for our clients. Aire Theater Designs is San Diego's choice for better WiFi and wireless solutions.

Want better WiFi San Diego? Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, El Cajon, Blossom Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.

Did you know that 99.99999999999999% of the population in San Diego has bad WiFi? OK, maybe there aren't that many 9s. However, many people curse daily at their household WiFi when Netflix gets slow, you venture into a WiFi "dead zone" or on-line videos keep buffering. Fortunately, your WiFi saviors have arrived in the shape of Aire Theater Designs! We are San Diego's WiFi experts and help our clients on a daily basis to navigate WiFi smoothly.

Before we bring on any new product, we make sure that we test it extensively in many different environments to ensure that it lives up to the reliability and performance that we expect from all of our product lines. For a few years, Apple's EXTREME router has occupied a GOOD slot in our GOOD>BETTER>BEST WiFi and networking hierarchy. However, we've been intrigued by Araknis Network products and their WiFi solutions and have finally put in the time to test them in both commercial and residential environments. It's time for the Araknis vs. Apple face-off! (HINT: Araknis wins! See below).

 Eero vs Apple...who will be victorious?

Let's face it...98% of people have bad WiFi. You may be one of these. Do you have areas of your house where accessing the Internet gets s....l....o....w? What about rooms where Netflix doesn't work and just keeps starting and stopping? If you do, there is a new player in the industry that claims to fix these issues. This company named Eero is advertising a seamless WiFi product that allows for high speeds throughout your entire home. As many of our clients know, we here at Aire Theater Designs believe NOTHING that advertisements portray and that we only bring in products that are tried-and-true and that have undergone thorough testing by our team. We decided to put Eero through these tests after an offer was made to bring on the line. Here's the scoop.

In our line of networking products, Eero would occupy a GOOD position in our GOOD>BETTER>BEST line-up. We decided to compare it to Apple, which currently resides in this space. We then did some head-to-head testing in both a residential and commercial space. Here's how Eero graded out.

 Rancho Santa Fe High-Speed Internet

If you live in Rancho Santa Fe and want high-speed Internet, you know that the Internet speeds enjoyed by 99% of San Diego aren't available to you. In fact, many areas of Rancho Santa Fe have maximum speeds of only 3 Mbps! To the uninitiated, think of this as miles-per-hour. Most areas of San Diego get anywhere from 25-200 Mpbs (megabits per second), depending on the area. Imagine if you had to drive everywhere at 3 miles-per-hour...pretty frustrating? This is what many residents of Rancho Santa Fe have had to deal with for years. This makes things like streaming Netflix, Amazon Prime or using most basic forms of home automation and universal remote an impossibility.

The good news is that a contract has just been signed with the R.S.F. Covenant that will bring high-speed Internet to the area. The bad news is that it is realistically years away. However, we here at Aire Theater Designs, Rancho Santa Fe's technology company have found some options for you.

1) HughesNet: This company offers solutions that provide speeds of up to 5X what ATT provides (the local Internet company).

2) Exede: This company offers solutions that provide speeds of up to 8X what ATT provides.

Have questions about what solution is right for you? We have helped clients in the area for years with their audio, video, home automation and Internet and WiFi options. Give us a call and let us assist with your high-speed Internet needs.

Rancho Santa Fe's home automation and High Speed Internet resource proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Olivenhain, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. We aren't forgetting about our East County friends in El Cajon, Blossom Valley, Lakeside and Alpine. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too